July 26 is my 82nd birthday - What have I learned in this long life?

byFKelso

3.5K followers

Updated 4 years ago

Sunday, July 26 is my 82nd birthday. My life has been adventurous and varied. Over these many years I have learned a lot, so thought it might be fun to share some of my lessons.

1) First of all, right from the starting gate, build strong ties with friends and realize the importance of family. Friends and family at times are all you have to help you pull your life together. Treasure them.

2) Believe in something larger than you that you can turn to when the going gets tough. It will get tough on occasion, I guarantee. If you find courage and strength in prayer, use that as a tool in your arsenal.

3) Be kind to children, pets, and those who have less than you. Kindness is giving and healing and can do great things when offered freely.

4) Spend lots of time learning stuff. Read good books. Learn skills from others who can teach you. There is always something more to learn.

5) Don't be bullied by others -- stand up for yourself and your beliefs. At the same time, do not be a bully. You will only hurt yourself, whether you realize it or not.

6) Don't sweat the small stuff. Life is full of details. Don't get trapped into thinking you have to get it all perfect. Lighten up. Don't let stress ruin your day or your life.

7) Shake off the negative as soon as possible. Negative thoughts create negative energy that will drag you down and deplete your sense of well-being. Stay positive.

8) Follow your dreams. You will change your life by doing so. My move to Spruce Island, where I built my own house and lived the dream I'd had for several years was what I call "a high hill (perhaps even a mountain) in the landscape of my life." It holds many treasured memories.

9) Believe in yourself and your abilities. Don't let anyone negate your personal value. With a positive self-belief, you can overcome great obstacles. Love yourself as well.

10) Laugh a lot. Laughter lightens so many of life's burdens. If something in particular brings you joy, do that thing as often as possible.

11) Use your head, but also follow your heart. You can't run through life with blinders on. Make wise decisions when considering your future. However, take into account what you most want from life, and let your heart carry you forward.

12) Know your limitations but don't let them stop you from trying to improve. Even if you are substandard in some skill, or if you feel you don't know as much as you should, move forward anyway, and strive to improve as you go.

13) See the beauty of nature. Spend time outdoors, away from people, and develop an appreciation for all that nature has to offer. It can sooth your soul.

14) Don't be afraid of trying something new. Get out of the box. Maybe you'll be horrible at this new thing, but perhaps you will excel. You won't know unless you try.

15) Help others when you can, but don't be too proud to accept help as well when you need it. The "helping others" part might be a skill you have to develop. However, as you age, you will find that other people want to help you. Let them.

16) Hone your strengths but do your best to overcome your weakness. Life lasts long enough if we are lucky to give us the chance to improve what needs improving.

17) Get regular exercise and eat wholesome foods. Keep moving. If you don't, you will "seize up" like a faulty engine and you will be more prone to illness. Make your own health a very important issue, and work to protect it.

18) Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Remember often how much you have and how much you have to be thankful for. This attitude will let the Universe know you appreciate and are grateful for many facets of your life, and you in turn will be rewarded with even more to be grateful for.

This list is a quick, "off the top of my head" collection. I know I have forgotten things, some of which are probably very important. Add your own ideas to the list to make it more complete.

And then, ask Joe! He is also 82, though he's a tad bit closer to 83 than I, and I know he will have some nuggets of wisdom to add.

Enjoy life! You only have one for sure, and you might as well make the most of it.